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freelancer

Beyond the binaries

The concept of intersectionality recognizes that multiple forms of oppression and discrimination can impact individuals at the same time. For example, African-Americans experience systemically and socially both economic disadvantage and racial discrimination. Black women face an addition layer of intersectional…

UBC votes no to BDS

Votes were tallied late Friday, April 7, for the referendum on the University of British Columbia campus, wherein students were asked if they supported their union in a BDS campaign – and the answer was no. The “no” vote numbered…

New seniors campus?

Community leaders are looking to the future of the Dr. Irving and Phyliss Snider Campus for Jewish Seniors – the Louis Brier Home and Hospital and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Residence – with the realization that the aging buildings…

Obligation to be hospitable

Imagine, for a minute, that you’re throwing an open house for a children’s sports team. You’ve invited a lot of people. You don’t know them all. Yet, you’re the host. It’s a beautiful, sunny, warm day. You’ve set up your…

Tackling affordability issues

image - The main issues that were brought up at the Affordability Summit

The main issues that were brought up at the Affordability Summit. (image by annaleekornelsen.com) Vancouver is in the throes of an affordability crisis. It’s in the news, provincial politicians are talking about it as they campaign for the upcoming election,…

Value in mentorship

photo - T-Jex after-school supplementary program is a partnership between Schara Tzedeck Synagogue and Shalhevet Girls High School, where the older students mentor the younger

T-Jex after-school supplementary program is a partnership between Schara Tzedeck Synagogue and Shalhevet Girls High School, where the older students mentor the younger. (photo from Shalhevet) When friends approached Gila Ross several years ago to start a new Hebrew school…

A new Camp Shalom

photo - This August, JCC Camp Shalom will also take place at Burquest Jewish Community Centre

This August, JCC Camp Shalom will also take place at Burquest Jewish Community Centre. (photo from JCC Camp Shalom) The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s JCC Camp Shalom for children and youth living in the Metro Vancouver area is…

Exhibit for the 150th

photo - The ribbon-cutting at the launch of the Canadian Jewish Experience exhibit. From left to right: Dr. Mark Kristmanson of the National Capital Commission; Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Moldaver; Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau; Rabbi Reuven Bulka of Machzikei Hadas Synagogue; Catherine Bélanger, widow of the late member of Parliament Mauril Bélanger; Tova Lynch of CJE; Linda Kerzner of Jewish Federation of Ottawa; and Cantor Daniel Benlolo of Congregation Kehilat Beth Israel

The ribbon-cutting at the launch of the Canadian Jewish Experience exhibit. From left to right: Dr. Mark Kristmanson of the National Capital Commission; Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Moldaver; Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau; Rabbi Reuven Bulka of Machzikei Hadas…

Mystery photo … April 21/17

photo - Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, 1995. Dvori Balshine is on the far left

Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, 1995. Dvori Balshine is on the far left. (photo from JWB fonds; JMABC L.11102) If you know someone in this photo, please help the JI fill the gaps of its predecessor’s (the Jewish Western…

A guide for the perplexed

photo - David Brog’s latest book was written for students looking to know more about Israel

David Brog’s latest book was written for students looking to know more about Israel. (photo from David Brog) During the Oslo Process of the 1990s, David Brog was quite optimistic about peace in Israel. Now, in light of a generation’s…

A potential malaria vaccine

photo - A malaria vaccine based on stabilized proteins could circumvent today’s problems

A malaria vaccine based on stabilized proteins could circumvent today’s problems. (photo from wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il) Despite decades of malaria research, the disease still afflicts hundreds of millions and kills around half a million people each year – most of them children…

Being a woman in the IDF

photo - From left to right, Staff Sgt. Maya, Sgt. Noam and Brigadier General (Res.) Gila Klifi-Amir at a Friends of the Israel Defence Forces program April 3 in New York City

From left to right, Staff Sgt. Maya, Sgt. Noam and Brigadier General (Res.) Gila Klifi-Amir at a Friends of the Israel Defence Forces program April 3 in New York City. (photo by Shiryn Ghermezian) Israel’s female soldiers seem to break…

Failure is a possibility

photo - Israeli culture does not encourage failure; rather, it is somehow more tolerant and accepting of it

Israeli culture does not encourage failure; rather, it is somehow more tolerant and accepting of it. (photo from Shutterstock.com via Israel21c) When was the last time you admitted you failed? Have you ever felt comfortable talking about your failures? How…

Travel along Incense Route

photo - A sculpture of camels traversing the Incense Route in Avdat National Park

A sculpture of camels traversing the Incense Route in Avdat National Park. (photo by Kate Giryes) Close your eyes and travel back in time 2,000 years. You’re riding on the back of a camel laden with frankincense and myrrh from…

Planning longest pipeline

photo - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu meeting with Noble Energy executives in the Prime Minister’s Office on April 3

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu meeting with Noble Energy executives in the Prime Minister’s Office on April 3. (photo from IGPO via Ashernet) About 20 years ago, natural gas was found off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Conservative estimates put the…

מחירי הנדל”ן

photo - Now Toronto's turn to sweat: real estate prices in Canada's big city do not stop rising

עכשיו תורה של טורונטו להזיע: מחירי הנדל”ן בעיר הגדולה של קנדה לא מפסיקים לעלות (צילום: Benson Kua) עד לאחרונה דיברו בקנדה על שוק הנדל”ן החים ביותר שנמצא באזור ונקובר. בחודשים האחרונים נראה שמחירי הנדל”ן בוונקובר קצת נרגעו לאור הטלת המס…

חקירה מואצת

photo - Ottawa International Airport

שדה התעופה אוטווה וב הבינלאומי. (צילום: P199 via Wikimedia) המשטרה הפדרלית הקנדית (האר.סי.אם.פי) ושירות המודיעין הביטחוני הקנדי (סי.אס.איי.אס) פתחו בחקירה מואצת לגלות את זהות הגורם שריגל ועקב אחרי מכשירי טלפון ניידים, בבירה אוטווה ובשדה התעופה הבינלאומי ‘טרודו’ של מונטריאול. כך…

Pesach sameach!

photo - Ramat Gan Safari Park ordered five kilograms of matzot for each of the animals that eats breads the rest of the year

During Passover, thousands of Israeli families will be taking advantage of the holiday period to visit some of the many attractions all over the country. One of the busiest will be Ramat Gan Safari Park, which does its own Pesach…

Help celebrate Israel’s 69th

photo - Jane Bordeaux – Amir Zeevi, left, Doron Talmon and Mati Gilad – perform at the Chan Centre on May 1

Jane Bordeaux – Amir Zeevi, left, Doron Talmon and Mati Gilad – perform at the Chan Centre on May 1. (photo from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver) What better way to bring folks together in song and celebration of Israel’s…

Marking Yom Hashoah

photo - Claude Romney will give the keynote address on April 23

Claude Romney will give the keynote address on April 23. (photo from Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre) Jacques Lewin, a Jewish physician in Paris, was arrested at the end of 1941 and was sent to Auschwitz on the very first convoy…

MLA seeks out positive solutions

photo - George Heyman is the member of the B.C. legislative assembly for Vancouver-Fairview

George Heyman is the member of the B.C. legislative assembly for Vancouver-Fairview. (photo from George Heyman) George Heyman is one of numerous British Columbia residents who owe their lives to the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara. Though born after the Second…

A healthy relationship

An interesting exchange occurred last week between four members of Israel’s Knesset and a Diaspora Jew who warned them that Israel risks losing the support of people like her. In a forum in Boston, an audience member said Israel had…

Record-breaking campaign

The record $8.5 million generated through the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver annual campaign will support programs and services on which thousands of Jewish community members rely, and includes $300,000 for community security initiatives. This campaign result is unprecedented and…

Fielder gives to VHEC

Vancouver-born writer and comedian Nathan Fielder has donated more than $150,000 US to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC). The funds represent the profits of the Summit Ice outdoor apparel line, founded by Fielder to raise awareness of the Holocaust…

UBC referendum proceeds

Last week, the B.C. Supreme Court rejected a petition to stop the University of British Columbia’s Alma Mater Society from holding a referendum April 3-7. The question being posed in the referendum is the same one the AMS asked of…

The importance of memoirs

This is the third of a three-part series on Writing Lives, a two-semester project at Langara College, coordinated by instructor Dr. Rachel Mines, in which second-year students are teamed up with local Holocaust survivors to interview them and write memoirs…

Women try to right wrongs

Elizabeth Cady Stanton – suffragist, social activist, abolitionist. Susan B. Anthony – social reformer, women’s rights activist. Ernestine Rose – who? Bonnie Anderson taught history and women’s studies for 30 years at Brooklyn College and at the Graduate Centre of…

International partners

photo - Left to right: Larry Fisher (Lark Group), David Berson (Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Daniel Blumenthal (Centre for Digital Innovation Negev), Dianne Watts (South Surrey-White Rock MP) and Rowena Rizzotti (Health and Technology District)

Left to right: Larry Fisher (Lark Group), David Berson (Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Daniel Blumenthal (Centre for Digital Innovation Negev), Dianne Watts (South Surrey-White Rock MP) and Rowena Rizzotti (Health and Technology District). (photo by Yvonne…

A life playing the bassoon

photo - George Zukerman, who retired his bassoon in 2012, will be honoured on April 27 with a tribute concert at Bell Performing Arts Centre

George Zukerman, who retired his bassoon in 2012, will be honoured on April 27 with a tribute concert at Bell Performing Arts Centre. (photo by Lauren Kramer) George Zukerman well remembers the day he was first introduced to the bassoon.…

Recalling Six Day War

photo - Posters from the Six Day War, explaining how to remain safe and be good citizens; the soldier shown is at El Arish, Sinai, in late June or early July 1967

Posters from the Six Day War, explaining how to remain safe and be good citizens; the soldier shown is at El Arish, Sinai, in late June or early July 1967. (photo by Shula Klinger ) This year marks the 50th…